News in February 2009

We are delighted that the quality of our diver training has been recognised again by PADI, the leader in diver education worldwide. IDC Staff Instructor, Kostas, received another Certificate of Recognition for Excellence for his teaching of an Advanced Open Water course last year. The feedback, which praised highly Camel’s facilities, instructors and staff, as well as Kosta’s teaching, was selected from thousands of comments made to PADI offices worldwide to feature on PADI’s website.

Our dive centre at Laguna Vista Resort in Nabq is closed temporarily, to undergo a facelift. The remodelled centre will provide better, more spacious and more comfortable facilities. It will include a new air-conditioned seating area inside, and refurbished classrooms for student divers. Camel Tribe branded dive wear, and handy diving accessories like log books and kids snorkel gear, will be on sale here for the first time. Ayman, Emily and the team look forward to welcoming you when the new-look centre reopens in March.

• In November 2008, Sharm el Sheikh became the 2nd destination worldwide to become a ‘Tourism Earth Lung’. Egypt’s Minister of Tourism pledged to reduce Sharm el Sheikh’s carbon footprint.
• 5 more Camel dive staff have signed up to help with the Coral Watch health-monitoring project
• Camel Instructors presented lessons on coral reef biology and vertebrates of the Red Sea at St Joseph’s International School, Sharm el Sheikh
• Camel Dive Club is sponsoring waste bins at Naama Bay jetty, to avoid rubbish entering the water
• At a visit to Camel in November, 19 tour operator representatives were informed about how to encourage their guests to protect the marine environment
• At Camel Hotel guests are now asked whether they want to change their bathroom towels daily. Choosing not to, helps to conserve water, save energy and minimise the release of detergents into the environment.
• We have begun work installing a new energy-saving solar panel to heat the diver training pool at Camel Hotel.

Following the abundance of whale sharks seen in Sharm el Sheikh’s waters in summer 2008, we have joined the Whale Shark Project. With your help we will submit future whale shark images and data to the Project’s official identification database. The data will assist with understanding migration patterns, and improve international protection of the world’s biggest fish.

Congratulations to Marcia, who became Camel Bar’s Manager on 1 February. Marcia joined the Camel Bar team eighteen months ago, from her native Texas. So what’s new and happening in the Bar? Watch out for the launch of the terrace bar and its expanded cocktail menu, plus other events this spring. Thursday Night Live bands will continue twice per month, along with regular big screen sports games. Marcia, Sean, Dorothy, Richard and the rest of the Camel Bar team look forward to seeing you soon in the Bar.